Why Washington Hates The FairTax by Ken Hoagland

So many times I hear from the public that Washington will not implement the FairTax. “No matter what we do Washington will not implement the FairTax.”  You know What?   They are right if we just do nothing.  This is what Washington hopes we the people will do.  Nothing!
The only way that Washington will have to implement the FairTax will be if “We the People stand up and Demand The Implementation of the FairTax”!  As Mr. Hoagland asked of us -  ” Let’s get to work” and change the minds of Washington. Please take time to read Mr. Hoagland’s letter below:

Why Washington Hates the FairTax
Monday, February 23, 2009
By: Ken Hoagland

Even though more Americans see the FairTax as the change that can save the nation
Opposition to the FairTax is bi-partisan in Washington. While most co-sponsors are Republican, those supporting the FairTax represent a minority of Republican Members. Eight years of majority rule by the GOP did not see the FairTax enacted. Democrats have been even less moved by the potential of the FairTax.

And yet, our campaign is rapidly growing across the nation. As economic news grows more dire by the day, more and more Americans see the FairTax as the change that can save the nation. While Washington may have been largely unresponsive in past years, we saw more co-sponsors in the last session of Congress than ever before. And, ultimately, the American people still have the power to change the “political chemistry” by demanding real representation of those who have been elected to voice our views in the halls of Congress. The Framers of the Constitution knew and feared our government taking power away from the body politic and giving more to elected and appointed officials. They wisely wrote into the foundation of our system of government the means to bring about change and check this expected corruption of a government, “Of, by and for the people…” That promise is at the heart of our grassroots effort.

Given that the tax code is so universally despised–and destructive to our economy–why has healthy change been so hard?

It’s human, not ideological. The FairTax takes away from Congress power over the tax code. The ability to grant favors to supplicants–paid lobbyists representing individuals and companies, other Members of Congress seeking breaks for favored constituents and contributors, themselves. It’s a heady business holding so much power over the system that handles so much money.

And, this business of seeking favors is big business in Washington with more than $1 billion a year spent lobbying for breaks in the tax code. Tax lobbyists are the most successful and powerful lobbyists in Washington. Their ranks are constantly replenished by staffers from the tax writing committees and ex-Members of Congress. Even a staffer with 8 to 10 years of experience can command a six or even seven figure “signing bonus” when they join a “K Street” tax lobby firm. Retiring or defeated Members of Congress can get a million dollars or more in signing bonuses and highly lucrative fees thereafter. DC pundits dine with them and Washington society celebrates their power and wealth.

With both power and profit motives so pronounced, entirely human officials and staffers are acting in self-interest against the proposal that ends this corruption. Scholars who have built careers around understanding the tax code and even tax reform groups whose membership is based upon railing against the income tax system similarly don’t want their “rice bowls” broken. Is it, quite simply, putting personal interests ahead of national interests.

Few members of the public would agree that this lucrative industry that has grown up around the tax code justifies the damage to our economy caused by the income tax system. It’s a really attractive system for a very small population of both Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C. and a really bad deal for all the rest of us. Power over the tax system and the profits derived from those close to the inner workings of the Congressional Committees are sad examples of the real bi-partisan cooperation in Washington–and the distance between what is good for these few and what is good for the nation.

This is exactly why the “merits” of the FairTax fall on deaf ears in Washington and why we have to force such change by recruiting numbers large enough to threaten a more important self-interest of elected officials–their re-elections. We don’t have to advocate the election of any person or party–just tell our neighbors, friends, colleagues and elected officials that we understand the FairTax, the opposition by Washington and that we want real change for the good of the nation. It is high time we ripped away the false facade of “public service”, supposed scholarly independence and tax reform hypocrisy that cloaks those protecting the income tax system and attacking the FairTax. It is high time that we act as a people, together, to force such change for the good of the entire nation without regard to party loyalty.

This is what we mean when we talk about the FairTax really being a struggle between hometown America and Washington, D.C. To win enactment of the FairTax, one must only believe that the best and strongest power within our Republic still resides with the public–and then act upon that belief.

Let’s get to work.